By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

GARYVILLE – As a stirring tribute to the reverence held for Jesus Christ, Catholics across the nation often conduct Stations of the Cross ceremonies during the observance of Lent that take participants back to those final days of Jesus’ life.

Eighth-grade students at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace recently participated in a living stations event during a Lenten retreat put on by the St. Charles Catholic retreat team. The production, which featured period clothes and costumes, as well as fake blood, was held March 19 at the St Hubert’s Church prayer garden in Garyville.

Suzanne Cupit, development director for St. Joan of Arc School, explained that part of the retreat is helping the students understand the challenges they face as they move into their high school years.

“We want to make sure they can spiritually handle these challenges,” said Cupit. “When they get involved in something as moving as a living Stations of the Cross, they get an understanding of the persecution, pain and suffering that Jesus went through. I think it helps to make their challenges less demanding.”

Cupit said St. Joan of Arc Principal Larry Bourgeois directs and narrates the performance. He selects actors based on physical features that fit the description of the roles. She said two full casts, all of which are eighth-graders, are selected.

“We start practicing just after Christmas break,” Bourgeois said. “We do about 12 days of practicing in the weeks leading up to the performances.”

Last Friday’s performance was the first of four the students will perform. The next performance is set for Friday, March 25, at the prayer garden, located at 176 Anthony F. Monica St., starting at 6 p.m. The second, scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, will be at the St. Joan of Arc gym, located at 412 Fir St. in LaPlace.

The final performance will be held on Good Friday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at the gym.

“The final performance is really the most moving,” said Bourgeois. “We do it so late in the day that in the waning moments, the gym will be pitch black.”